Sunday, October 31, 2004
New Media Department Meeting #23
NEW MEDIA DEPARTMENT MEETINGWednesday, October 6, 2004
1:00 p.m. – W866
Minutes # 23
When available, David would like a calendar of upcoming events to precede the minutes.
Present: David Clearwater, Chair – Bob Cousins, Nick Fai, Jill Flaman, Terry Gallie, James Graham, Christopher Moore, Anna Pickering, Gerald Prost, Daniela Sirbu, Will Smith, Jeff Milner Student Representative and Jill Payant, Recording Secretary.
I Adoption of the Agenda – with the following additions:
3.1 Chairs Report – (Clearwater)
3.4 Visiting Artist (Graham)
4.9 Emailing Student Body (Pickering)
4.10 Recruitment DVD (Flaman)
4.11 Accommodations for Special Needs (Cousins)
Graham/Gallie. Carried
II Adoption of the Previous Minutes Send to Department members on September 29, 2004. Pickering/Moore. Carried
III Items for Information
3.1 Chairs Report (Clearwater) Security Services has indicated that W850 has been left opened and unlocked after regular business hours on numerous occasions. If you are using this room for slides or printing purposes, please remember to lock the door behind you to avoid theft.
3.1.1 A policy for faculty wide markers and teaching assistants will be added as an Item for Discussion in a future department meeting.
3.1.2 There has been discussion regarding hosting a Grand Opening for the Recording Studio in W700. Linda Nicol suggested waiting until the studio is up and running and tie it into Recruitment efforts.
3.1.3 For your information the claim forms (expense, departmental, professional supplement, etc.,) will be going on line shortly for easier access and submission.
3.2 Recap of Lighting Equipment (Gallie) Please refer to the Breakdown of Lighting/Audio Equipment Order handout from Terry, for specific quote amounts. Material Management is holding the Purchase Order until competitive quotes can be assessed.
3.3 Recap of Maya Order (Clearwater) David indicated the
information regarding the Maya order would be available within a couple of weeks. James indicated it was essential that he have the information as quickly as possible, as his class will be accessing the program before the end of the fall 2004 semester.
3.4 Visiting Artist (Graham) James announced that an invitation sent to White Iron Digital to attend the forum featuring the recent visiting artist Zoran Kačić-Alesić had been accepted. The attendees were impressed with their visit and indicated they would be available to visit the university sometime towards the end of November or beginning of December and could bring with them, compositors, animators and technical directors. No dates are firm and no fee has been assessed.
Relic Entertainment is aware of the U of L MOCAP system and interest was expressed in collaborating with the New Media department. James stated an opportunity might become available for an exchange process in services and student involvement.
V Items for Discussion/Action
4.1 New Media Mixer Committee (Graham) The New Media Mixer is scheduled for Friday, October 22, 2004 from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. and will be held in the Student Union Ballrooms A & B. Food will be supplied by the new Bistro restaurant and will include trays of pizza, appetizers, soft drinks and a cash bar. Water cooler will be provided.
A volunteer decoration committee will be organized with about 4 students and will have access to decorate the rooms one day prior to the event. Any decorating is allowed with the exception of punching holes in the sheet rock.
Students are allowed to bring an off campus partner but tickets will need to be obtained prior to the event.
Guest speakers may include alumnus Brad Kinley, Nate Smith and Kristy Sorgaard.
James is still looking for donations for the usual prize draws. Please see him if you have anything to donate.
4.2 New Media/New Music Call for Work – (Smith) The Music, Machines and New Media concerts are scheduled for Fridays, November 12 & 19, 2004. Deadline to submit work is at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 29, 2004. If you have any questions see Will Smith. New Media has allocated $500.00 for their portion of the fees.
4.3 New Media Month – Advance Publicity and Implications of Cutback (Smith) – Brief comments circulated regarding the promotion of New Media Month (March 2005) in the OSAG. Activities have been scaled back to focus on curriculum planning. The following are scheduled dates during New Media Month that will commence: Friday, March 4, 2004 SAAG Opening, Saturday, March 5th, 2005 – Lethbridge/Alberta Celebration and Saturday March 19th, 2005 Lethbridge Faculty and Staff Showing.
Work submission process briefly discussed. Adjudicating process will be initiated.
4.4 Sound System in B520 (Fai) Complaints were voiced regarding
equipment in these rooms being relocated and inadequate sound systems in both B519 and B520. Nick is currently investigating the cost of purchasing a receiver and speakers and has presented a quote between $850 – $900.00 (US). David has asked that he continue to compare quotes and report his findings at the next department meeting.
It was also suggested that the department institute a policy that equipment designated to a specific lab be left in its place. The department will be looking at equalizing both labs (B519 & B520) to create compatible work environments.
4.5 New Media Web Presence (Moore) Chris presented strategies on
increasing the profile of the New Media Department Web and has asked the department members to submit any ideas they may have as well. Suggestions included interactive student portal showcase webpage, rotating front page and a faculty portal web page.
Motion: To strike a committee to help in the creation of a New Media Web Presence. Smith/Flaman
4.6 New Hires – NMED staffing Plan (Clearwater) – David presented
a New Hire plan for the next two years indicating an academic hire for 2005 and another in 2006. The department was polled on their input as to the type of individual needed. It was suggested a ‘generalist’ would be an excellent consideration and could facilitate filling the current holes in the curriculum. FFA in general needs to consider more service courses to be available for non-majors as well as the future possible MFA.
David will be emailing the department as a whole, outlining the collective needs and ask for feedback from the department members.
4.7 Portable Audio Gear (Fai) Nick Fai presented the price tag of a
portable audio gear unit, at $900.00 but which is currently on sale for $700.00. Comments included the statement that the above-mentioned article is well worth the cost because of if its traveling/transportation capabilities. David and Nick and will discuss the specifics and present more information at an upcoming department meeting.
4.8 CPU Acquisition in PE240 and 3DMAX for MOCAP Course
(Smith) (Spring 2005) CPU has been purchased for this lab and was obtained as a department purchase.
4.9 Mass Student Body Emailing – Anna Pickering currently has a
student body listserv, which she uses to contact New Media students in regards to internship specific information. In the past, department members have asked to have their New Media emails directed to students via this list serve. Anna has asked that an alternative method be created to facilitate mass student body outgoing emails in order ensure the specific nature of this specially created list serve.
An alternative method for mass emails is being considered and will be made available shortly.
4.10 Recruitment DVD (Flaman) Jill F. has asked the department to
submit strong student works to be used in a Recruitment DVD currently being created. A special emphasis will be placed on Cinematography and Net Art.
4.11 Accommodation for Special Needs Students (Cousins) Concerns
were expressed with the heavy-duty special needs requirements for certain students, specifically necessary during testing periods. It is recognized that each student is important and that specific criteria conducive to a positive testing experience should be made available. However, the responsibility of instructors having to set up and over-see special needs testing procedures is being challenged, especially for instructors with a large number of enrolled student’s.
It was suggested that it is the student’s responsibility to arrange with the instructor, in advance, the distinctive measures necessary for their testing procedures. It was further suggested that instructors include directions in their syllabus to inform students of their course policy and procedure.
V Other Business – None
VI Adjournment
Motion to adjourn
Pickering/Prost 2:45 p.m.
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Entry posted by Jeff Milner at 9:14 AM
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Saturday, October 30, 2004
Bookstore Notice
The University Bookstore will begin processing returns of remaining Fall 2004 inventory on November 5th. Students who have not yet purchased their textbooks for the Fall 2004 semester, should do so before November 5th, because the Bookstore cannot guarantee stock after this date. For those students who come into the Bookstore after this date, finding we don't have the stock, it will take approximately 2-3 weeks for a re-order to arrive in the Bookstore.Comments (0)
Entry posted by Jeff Milner at 9:03 AM
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Tuesday, October 12, 2004
New Media Student Representative Election
I'll try and keep this brief, but please read through this entry as it does affect you. Currently I am the only Student Representative for the New Media Program, however the faculty has asked me to find an additional representative to help better represent the student body.If you are interested in taking on this responsibility, then as a representative, you would act as the ears and mouth for students in the program. Your obligations would include regular attendance of department faculty meetings and various liaison duties such as reporting back to the student body on issues of importance.
In order to be elected as a representative you must first be nominated by at least one student other than yourself. As a nominee you must also agree to be nominated and must sign the nomination form. The nomination forms for the student representative's position is available from Jill Payant's office between 10:00 and 4:00 pm on Tuesday October 26th. If you are a nominator, please fill out the form
and have the nominee sign it before the deadline.
The nominees will have a chance to send out an email to the student body and the election will be held via email on Tuesday November 2nd, 2004 - voting ends at 4:00 pm.
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Entry posted by Jeff Milner at 2:21 PM
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Third Annual New Media Mixer - October 22nd, 2004
Get ready for the University of Lethbridge New Media Department's third annual New Media Mixer. This year the department is providing food and entertainment that promises to be the best mixer yet.The mixer starts at 7:30 - come early or go hungry. The department has invited post-graduate speaker Brad Kinley to speak. Have a great time getting to know one another and try out multiplayer Halo, PS2, GameCube, and more!
It's free for New Media Students, as well each student is welcome to bring a friend / date.
The Mixer takes place at the University Bistro and Bar (The Zoo).
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Entry posted by Jeff Milner at 11:13 AM
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ISIMD'05 - CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
The following was sent to me via email. It is for all U of L New Media students:We cordially invite you to participate and present your work during the 3. International Symposium of Interactive Media Design on January 5 - 7, 2005 at the Yeditepe University in Istanbul. (Deadline for submissions: December 3, 2004) Please visit our website at
ISIMD'04 was held between January 5 - 7, 2004. 115 participants from 17 countries contributed to the panels and exhibitions.
Best Regards,
Prof. Dr. Emin Dogan AYDIN
Chair of the Department of Visual Communication Design
Yeditepe University
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Entry posted by Jeff Milner at 11:10 AM
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Friday, October 01, 2004
New Media Student Volunteers Needed
We are in need of New Media students to volunteer for our Connections program. If you are interested, please contact Linda Kucheran (kucheran@uleth.ca)If you are unfamiliar with the Connections program, please check it out. Thanks.
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